5 Reasons to Fall in Love With Running

Happy Friday the 13! Do you have any Valentine’s Day plans this weekend? I’m looking forward to a long weekend of fun and romance with my boyfriend Bret. Yesterday was the 3 year anniversary of our first date! Bret has been a wonderful partner, confidante, study buddy, and running buddy. I’m lucky to have him!

Five Reasons to Fall in Love With Running

Almost exactly four years ago, I began my running journey. I trained for my first distance race – the Broad Street Run, and I had never run more than a mile, let alone 10 miles. I NEVER expected it, but during the training process I fell in love with running and we’ve been going strong ever since! There have been some rocky moments along the way, but I have always been able to come back to running and I hope that we will be together for the rest of my life.

My friend Stephanie and I after the Broad Street Run

Having such joy for running, and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share some reasons why you should give running a shot! Maybe you’ve considered starting running and it was too difficult to start. Maybe you thought you weren’t making any progress in your speed. Maybe you think your knees can’t handle the impact. This post is dedicated to you!

Go Places You’ve Never Gone

Running in Tyler State Park on a weekend getaway

Running gives you the opportunity to explore new roads – literally! Have you heard of runcations? This is where people travel to races with the dual purpose of having an awesome vacation. I look forward to having my first runcation at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile race in Washington, DC! Even when you’re just off for a weekend trip, you can always look for an opportunity to run in a new space.

While traveling is awesome, with running, you have so much to explore right in your own backyard. Go for a run through scenic neighborhoods in your city or head out and discover some amazing trails. In Philly, Forbidden Drive along the Wissahickon Creek and Pennypack Park are among my favorite places to run.

Don’t Believe the Hype – So Many Health Benefits!

Running is good for you. Period. Running improves your bone density, boosts your immune system, and is a great way to release stress. There are often conflicting studies about the long-term effects of running, but there is overwhelming evidence that running is great way to improve your health and lose weight.

It’s a Gateway to Other Types of Fitness

When I first started running, all I wanted to do was run. I did boot camp workouts from time to time but all I did was focus on running. Quickly, I learned that this was a bad idea and I started to experience overuse injuries and knee pain: hello, cross-training! There are so many different workouts that are complementary to running: yoga, barre, swimming, cycling, weight lifting – the list goes on! And they all have enhanced benefits for staying in shape – improving your flexibility and strengthening your non-running muscles. If it weren’t for running, I would have never fallen in love with yoga. The possibilities are endless!

Collect a Lifetime of Memories One Medal at a Time

Some of my medals over the years

For some runners, it’s all about the bling. Disney races are infamous for their gorgeous medals, and it seems that races are getting increasingly creative with their designs. It’s wonderful to be able to collect medals, race bibs, and so many memories throughout your running journey. Not all races offer medals, depending on the distance and the size of the race, but it’s great to start a collection and have something tangible to display your accomplishments!

Find a Deeper Connection With Yourself

As much as I love running with other people, there’s nothing more amazing than the time that I spend running on my own. It’s a time where I’m away from the computer, away from distractions and stressful things, and if I want to, I can just think about nothing at all and enjoy the scenery around me. It was during one of my runs where I came up with the blog name Run With No Regrets!

Consider using running as an opportunity to have some “me time”. Pop in your earplugs if you need to and head out on a run. Clear your head. Get away from the stress for a little while. Take the time to think about life, your goals, and your dreams. It’s actually very therapeutic!

Bonus: It Doesn’t Matter How Fast You Go – If You Run, You’re a Runner

This is one point I cannot stress enough. So many times I’ve heard people say “I’m not a real runner. I’m not fast”. But you ARE a runner! You’re putting one foot in front of the other and getting it done! I have struggled with this concept over the years, comparing myself to others and believing “if only I could get to this point, I’ll be better”…but it’s not about that. If you run, you’re a runner. It’s that simple! I’m so grateful that I’m healthy enough to run at any pace; to me, it’s a blessing!

But it doesn’t matter what I say about running. YOU have to step out there and try it for yourself! You never know…running may be the love of your life!

What do you love about running, and what do you struggle to love about it? Do you have special plans for Valentine’s Day?